Goodwin Graduates First Dental Hygiene Class

On April 14, 15 new dental professionals, who will devote their careers to caring for the smiles of others, were wearing some pretty impressive smiles of their own. Family, friends, and faculty gathered at the Goodwin College auditorium in East Hartford to honor the Dental Hygiene class of 2016, the first class to graduate from the program.

“It seems like just weeks ago that the equipment was being delivered to 403 Main Street,” said Goodwin’s president, Mark Scheinberg, referring to the building that houses the program’s classrooms and labs as well as the dental hygiene clinic where the students provided free dental care to members of the local community.

“You are the inaugural class of this program,” he continued. “We are grateful for the faith you placed in us, and we congratulate you for having the determination it took to be the first to cross the finish line.”

Dental Hygienist Program director Carmen Hufcut offered some key advice to her students: “Keep calm, speak up, empathize, educate yourself, and give a little extra every day. It’s the patients that matter, and they are what it will make your career a success.”

She also reminded the audience that the students had learned the value of being part of the community. “On top of a very rigorous academic program, these students have completed over 150 community enrichment hours as well as more than 600 clinical hours, providing free dental care, patient education, and services to the Hartford community. They should be should be proud of all that they have accomplished.”

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A Flexible Dental Hygiene Degree

You deserve a college that offers classes on your schedule. At Goodwin, you’ll find class times that fit into your schedule and cater to your needs. Unlike many other colleges, at Goodwin, we’re all about convenience.

Clinical sessions are offered in the fall and spring. These sessions have a rotating schedule of days, evenings, and Saturdays where students are required to schedule patients for care delivery in our clinic.

Classes are offered in a standard 15-week format.

During the last year of the program, students will be involved in community rotations where they will provide oral health education to community partners and hygiene services at various dental clinics in the Hartford region.